Paul Simon Formally Announces His Retirement from Touring

After five long decades, Paul Simon has officially put a bow on his historic touring career.

Early this morning, the prolific singer-songwriter posted a short and poignant statement to his Twitter account announcing that this coming tour would be his last. "I've often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I'd consider bringing my performing career to a natural end," he writes. "Now I know: it feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating, and something of a relief."

Simon goes on to cite the passing of his band's lead guitarist, Vincent N'guini, as part of his reason for stopping now, as well as the toll that leaving his family for long periods of time takes on him. Though this upcoming tour will mark his last, Simon writes that he hopes to give the occasional performance and donate the proceeds to philanthropic ecological organizations "whose objective is to save the planet."